Kevin O’Connell discovered himself repeatedly sending some model of the identical textual content message to his former faculty roommate at varied factors in the course of the Jets offseason.
And, no, he wasn’t simply blowing smoke in GM Darren Mougey’s course.
“More often than not I used to be complimenting him on whether or not it was an awesome draft they’d, or how they dealt with a few of their inside conditions there — getting their operating again (Breece Corridor re-signed),” O’Connell, the Vikings head coach, mentioned Thursday on a Zoom forward of {golfing} within the American Century Championship.
“I simply assume the plan that he’s had has been rather well thought-out. It’s one factor — a whole lot of groups put the time and the power in to have as a lot good planning as you possibly can — but it surely’s in regards to the execution of these plans. The way in which Darren has gone about it doesn’t shock me.”
O’Connell, a former Jets backup quarterback who now’s considered one of many league’s high quarterback whisperers, and Mougey have been San Diego State soccer teammates who’ve stayed in contact throughout their non-overlapping NFL journeys.
“I do know there’s not a day Darren exhibits as much as work that he doesn’t really feel ready — and I believe that’s proving to be the case,” O’Connell mentioned. “He’s not afraid to make tough selections, and I believe that’s as a result of it’s in alignment with the method that he has. He’s making an attempt to execute a imaginative and prescient that he has for that group. As a former Jet, it’s all the time good to see the group in good palms — they usually definitely are with Darren and A.G. (head coach Aaron Glenn).”
After Mougey loaded up on draft picks by buying and selling Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner throughout a teardown 2025 season, the 2026 Jets ought to characteristic at the very least six new defensive starters because of spreading round a comparatively modest $88.4 million free-agency tab, three rookies drafted within the first spherical (together with pass-catchers Kenyon Sadiq and Omar Cooper Jr.) and a brand new stopgap quarterback (Geno Smith).
The Jets signed Corridor and guard Joe Tippmann to extensions, retaining all 10 non-quarterback offensive starters underneath contract by means of 2027.
The plan appears to be placing complementary items in place that permit Smith’s eventual younger successor to hit the bottom operating.
O’Connell’s Vikings, who’re 43-25 with eight totally different beginning quarterbacks in 4 seasons and shortly could possibly be onto No. 9 in Kyler Murray, present a type of blueprint for constructing a playoff workforce that isn’t quarterback-centric.
O’Connell’s offense is constructed to generate straightforward completions and arrange explosives.
“What we’ve tried to do is put collectively a world the place the quarterback — whoever is within the sport for us — can put together and easily do their job,” O’Connell mentioned. “Once you get high quality play at that place — and what that appears like can look loads totally different relying on guys’ ability set — it simply results in so many avenues to your workforce having an opportunity to win several types of video games.”
The American Century Championship shall be held July 10-12 at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in Lake Tahoe and televised on NBC Sports activities.
O’Connell is a first-timer who is anticipated to be joined by Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald and Titans head coach Robert Saleh in a subject of greater than 90 rivals.
The match has raised greater than $8 million for charity in its first 36 years.
